The Experience

This boxy yellow villa with views of Mount Etna over the rooftops of Taormina oozes history. Over the years it’s played host to many great literary giants and artists – Tennessee Williams, Bertrand Russell, Dali and Picasso, who gives his name to the main suite, were all guests of its aristocratic English owners. Today Mimma, the daughter of the chauffeur and housekeeper, who worked for the family, owns the house. She has preserved it beautifully; the stunning gardens and part of the house, including the dining room which was furnished and decorated by Frank Brangwyn and Alfred East, are now a museum as well as a hotel. Guests enter a library/reception area, and the five light-flooded bedrooms are all upstairs; the two in the towers have huge terraces and spectacular vistas; all have antique furnishings, watercolours on pastel walls and brand new beds; bathrooms have been updated but mostly this place is a ‘how to’ in preservation. Each morning breakfast – fresh fruits, homemade cakes and breads – is laid out on the top floor as you gaze out over the Bay of Naxos and plan your day touring Sicily. Fab.

Read moreDown arrowUp arrow

Essentials

Swimming pool

Hot tub

Garden

Open fire / woodburner

Breakfast included

Breakfast available

Meals available

Vegetarian meals

Parking on premises

Free parking nearby

Accessible by public transport

WiFi

Television

Spa

Central heating

Limited mobility

Wheelchair access

Mobile reception

Hob

Bar

Barbecue

Licensed premises

Paid parking nearby

Air conditioning

Relaxation areas

Washing machine

Tennis court

No smoking

Credit cards

Working farm

Owner has pets

Pets welcome

Family friendly

Baby monitor

Books and toys

Children welcome

Babies welcome

Stair gates

High chair

Cot available

Nearby

Pub/bar within 3 miles

Restaurant within 3 miles

Shop within 3 miles

Activities

Bikes available

Food courses

Kayaking

Other courses

Sailing

Surfing

Wild swimming

Read moreDown arrowUp arrow

Information & pricing

Booking information

Check in

2pm - 8pm

Check out

10.30am

Booking restrictions

Minimum stay: 2 nights.

Closed

Rarely.

Meals

Restaurants 10-minute walk.

Pricing

Nightly price

from €150

5 Doubles

From €150

Read moreDown arrowUp arrow

Accommodation

Reviews

The neighbourhood

Local points of interest from Mimma Cundari

Casa Cuseni is home to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Grand Tour of the city of Taormina: with the famous collection of watercolors of the English Grand Tour in Sicily and in the land of the East (J.Wright, F.Brangwyn, A.East, C.A. Hunt, R.Kitson,P.Steer)

Casa Cuseni, Maison de Charme has an extraordinary view of the Gulf of Naxos, the Etna volcano and the Garden of Casa Cuseni.

The Maison Casa Cuseni has been open since 1948 as the first Italian residence for writers and painters. The house has been declared an Italian National Monument. It's also part of the Great Italian Gardens.

Casa Cuseni for the high historical and artistic value has been declared an Italian National Monument, it is part of the Icom Houses-Museum, the Museum Houses of the greatest Italian intellectuals (Dante, Petrarca, Boccaccio, Verdi, D'Annunzio, Pavarotti)

Casa Cuseni preserves Sir Frank Brangwyn's dining room, the only existing interior in the world by Sir Frank Brangwyn. The dining room has been defined as the best example of Arts and Crafts Movements in the world outside of Great Britain.